Tobacco-stemming machine.



R. J. BOLTZ.

TOBAOOO STEMMING MACHINE.

, APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1918. 1,100,948. Patented June 23, 1914.

2 SEEBTSSHEBT 1. Z0

a4 21 m F ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH C0,,WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J. BOLTZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOBACCO-STEMMING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT J. BOLTZ, acitizen of the United States, residing in the cit-y of Philadelphia,county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented aTobacco-Stemming Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved machine designed primarily for cutting outthe butts or the desired parts of the stems from Habana or other leaftobacco of the finer and smaller grades, particularly where it is notdesired to remove the entire stem as is com monly required in preparingthe leaves of the coarser grades of tobacco for the manufacture ofcigars.

The characteristic advantages are due to the ability to shear from theleaf the de sired amount of the stem, depending upon the character ofthe leaf, by a simple, safe and efficient machine, permitting desiredflexibility in operation and saving waste.

In its preferred form, my invention is embodied in a machine comprisinga die or cutting block having therein a tapered slot forming stationaryshearing means with angularly disposed cutting edges, in combinationwith reciprocating resilient shearing means conforming to such slot andhaving angularly disposed cutting edges coacting with the edges of thestationary shearing means, means forguiding butts and means forprotecting the operator.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken sectional elevation, on the line1--1 of Fig. 2, of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a brokentop plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 ofFig. 1; Fig. 4c is a top plan view of the cutting block; and Fig. 5 is abottom plan view of the shearing means which reciprocate in the block.

The machine comprises a table 1, containing a slot 2, on which is fixed,by bolts 3, a bed plate or block 4 containing a slot 5 regis tering withthe slot 2 and a dovetail way 6 above the slots.

A die or shearing block 7 of dovetail cross-section, is fixed in the way6 by a set screw 8 and contains a tapered slot 9 registering with theslot 5 and forming the angularly disposed shearing edges 10, the diesinclined sides 11 providing supports, guides and protection for thehands of the operator.

A split tapered knife 12, having the resilient blades 13 with angularlydisposed inclined Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 6, 1913.

Patented June 23, 1914:. Serial No. 783,234.

to engage the bearing to limit the movement of reciprocation.

The head 15 is provided with a bearing 22 which is pivotally connected,by a pin 23, with a lever 24 which is fulcrumed on a pin 25 carried bylinks 26, the latter being journaled on a pin 27 supported by thebearings 18. A coiled spring 28 has its top fixed to a pin 29 carried bythe bearings 18 and its bottom fixed to the lever 24 which is normallyelevated thereby and elevates the head 15 with the knife 12 thereon. Ayoke 30 on a rod 31 is fixed to the lever 24 by a pin 32 and a yoke 33on this rod is connected to the pedal or foot lever 3 1 by a pin 35, thelever being fulcrumed on the pin 36 and acting to depress the head 15with the knife 12 thereon against the action of the spring 28.

The knife blades 13 reciprocate between guiding and guarding devices 37,diverging upwardly and extending so close to the top of the die 7 thatthe operators fingers cannot pass under the knife.

In operation, with the knife elevated, the tobacco leaf is placed uponthe die, with the stem in registration with the slot 9, the leaf beingadjusted so that the front part of the descending knife will divide thestem at the desired part at the end of the shearing operation by whichthe butt, or part of the stem to be removed, has been cut out close toits edges, the contraction of the slot and blade from the rear to thefront corresponding to the taper of the tobacco stem to be removed. If,as is frequently the case, the end of the stem in the leaf is curled,this curled end is entered between the parts 37 and carried to thedesired position for shearing it out by the descent of the knife. As theknife reciprocates in the slot, the resiliency of the blades holds themin close frictional engagement with the die and keeps the cutting edgessharp, whereby clean shearing is effected.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character deshearing mechanism comprisingresilientv blades adapted to reciprocate in said slot, and means forreciprocating said mechanism last named.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a stationary shearingmechanism having therein a tapered slot forming converging cuttingedges, in combination with shearing mechanism comprising resilientblades adapted to reciprocate in said slot and coact with said edges,sald blades having inclined edges, and means for reciproeating saidsecond named shearing mechanism.

l. In apparatus of the character described, a cutting block having aslot therein, in combination with a knife having resilient blades insaid slot in frictional engagement with said block, the edges of saidblades being disposed obliquely to the surface of said block.

5. In apparatus of the character described, an apertured die havingsides below the top thereof and adapted for guiding the hands of theoperator, in combination with shearing means having inclined edgesmovable in said die, and mechanism for reciprocating said means.

6. In apparatus of the class described,a cutting block containing a slothaving con verging edges, in combination with a knife reciprocating insaid slot and having edges conforming to edges thereof, the edges ofsaid knife being disposed obliquely to a horizontal plane.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a die containing a slot havingconverging edges, a knife adapted to reciprocate in said slot and havingedges conforming to the edges thereof, a head to which said knife isfixed, said head having a slide at one end thereof, and a Way in whichsaid slide reciprocates, the end of said knife opposite said slide beingfree.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of July,1913, in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

ROBERT J. BOLTZ.

I/Vitnesses:

Jos. Gr. DENNY, Jr, C. N. BUTLER.

comma of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

'Waahington, D. 0.

